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CC - Adoption of a Resolution Establishing Fees for Police and Fire Department Personnel Required to be Retained by Filming Activity and Special Event Permittees, Pursuant to Culver City Municipal Code §§ 11.14.035 and 17.520.030
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Contact Person/Dept: Jeff Muir
Phone Number: 310-253-5865
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [] Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date:
Commission Name:
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (05/17/16)
Department Approval: Jeff Muir, Chief Financial Officer (05/12/16)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a resolution establishing fees for Police and Fire Department personnel required to be retained by filming activity and special event permittees pursuant to Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC) §§ 11.14.035 and 17.520.030.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
CCMC § 11.14.035 requires film permittees to retain Culver City Police Department personnel to be present at all times during filming activity and Culver City Fire Department personnel to be present during filming activity, as required by the Fire Code, all at the permittee’s sole cost and expense. In addition, pursuant to CCMC § 17.520.030, special event permittees may be required, as part of the event conditions of approval, to retain Police and Fire Department personnel as determined by the City in order to address security and safety issues. Historically, these safety personnel have worked these assignments outside of their normal duties and work schedule.
On March 28, 2016, City Council approved changing the current process so that safety personnel are assigned to staff filming and other special events within Culver City boundaries while on-duty. The new process will involve those seeking filming or special event permits to pay the City a fee up front for the required Police and Fire personnel. The proposed resolution will establish these fees.
Filming assignments require a minimum of eight hours for each assigned employee, and special events require a minimum of six hours for each assigned employee. Assignments on weekdays are paid as regular overtime to the employees, and assignments on weekends or holidays are paid at double-time. The table below represents the current amount charged for each assignment type, the new cost to the City based on average overtime rates, and the recommended fee level.
Fire Department Current New Cost New Fee
Fire Safety Officer (Weekday) $448 $696 $695
Fire Safety Officer (Saturday) $672 $929 $925
Fire Safety Officer (Sunday/Holiday) $896 $929 $925
Life Safety Officer (Weekday) $448 $522 $500
Life Safety Officer (Weekend/Holiday) $448 $696 $500
Police Department Current New Cost New Fee
Film Assignment (Weekday) $440 $632 $630
Film Assignment (Weekend/Holiday $880 $843 $840
City Permitted Special Event* (Weekday) $440 $474 $470
City Permitted Special Event* (Weekend/Hol) $440 $632 $470
Vet’s Center Permitted Event (Weekday) $320 $474 $350
Vet’s Center Permitted Event (Weekend/Hol) $320 $632 $350
* Larger scale events at the Veterans Center that go through the City’s special event application process will be charged this fee level.
The fees charged for filming assignments will generally be increasing, with one exception. It is industry standard in almost all cities to assign Police and Fire employees similar to Culver City’s practices. Filming and production companies are used to paying the full cost for the employees assigned, and the City’s current charges were on the low end of most surrounding cities.
It is a City practice to assign Police and/or Fire employees to certain special events based on the type of event, where it is held, the number of people attending, and other factors. Certain events at the Veterans Center, particularly those serving alcohol, are also required to have a Police Officer present. The City has historically endeavored to keep the charges for these types of events lower. Modest increases for the new fees are recommended, but there is still a subsidy recommended. However, the vast majority of assignments (90% for Fire and 70+% for Police) are film related, so the subsidy will only be provided a small percentage of the time.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
These changes in procedure will result in increased overtime expenditures which will be mostly offset by fee collections. The Fiscal Year 2016-17 Proposed budget will incorporate additional amounts for expenditures and revenues associated with the new process. It is impossible to know what the exact costs and revenues will be since this is completely based on demand. Staff will monitor the actual activity and may recommend fee adjustments next year based on what is observed.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Proposed Resolution.
RECOMMENDED MOTION(S)
That the City Council:
Adopt a resolution establishing fees for Police and Fire Department personnel required to be retained by filming activity and special event permittees pursuant to CCMC §§ 11.14.035 and 17.520.030.